by loosie 25 Oct 2011

Why? My brother se 400 is sewing well and then all hell breaks loose, the upper thread is all wrapped up in and around the bobbin case....I cleaned up the mess re-hooped and now it won't sew without it wrapping around the bobbin case. This has happened before and I always get it going again, but today I'm in a crunch to get my daughters gift ready for her birthday Thursday. What to do to fix this problem, any suggestions? A little desperate here... almost in tears...

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by danababes 26 Oct 2011

This happens with my Brother when I put the bobbin in up-side-down .. surprisingly I seem to do it often lol, hope it was that simple for you (compared to needing a service etc) :) xXx

1 comment
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

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by blueeyedblonde 26 Oct 2011

glad you got it working again and it was something simple. You had probably already fixed the problem with all the things you did, but it needed to be shut off to restart (like our computers have to shutdown to an update to take effect).

1 comment
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

I never thought of that! you may be right.

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by cfidl 26 Oct 2011

did you change the needle? This is what happens with my 350 when my needle is dull. I'm sure you took out the bobbin case to look for errant threads - they are machine killers! good luck - let us know! christine

1 comment
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

Oh yes, did all that twice, it was maddening I was running out of things to check, finally just turned it off and let it be, after a spell it was working again sooo weird...

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by patsy28 26 Oct 2011

Soooooooooo glad your machine is working again!!!!

1 comment
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

me too!

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by airyfairy 26 Oct 2011

Hope you got this sorted out and were able to finish your daughters present. Sarah.

1 comment
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

me too!

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by sewdeb 26 Oct 2011

I see you got lots of help. Here's what I have to offer: I've always been told, "if the bird's nest is underneath, the trouble is with the top or needle thread and just the opposite is true - mess on the top - check your bobbin. Hope things are working for you again! Hugs and *'s for you

2 comments
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

Managed to get it working!

osueo by osueo 07 Jul 2013

Thanks for the info----I never knew that.
Mess on bottom---trouble is on top.
And opposite
That helps IMMENSELY----
Thanks

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by lidiad 26 Oct 2011

This "bird nest" happened to my 10-year-old Janome MC 9000, a couple of years ago. The bobbin case was burred and I bought a new bobbin case, but the machine never went back to working properly. Desperate, I convinced my dear Hubby to buy me a new, modern machine with large hoops ... :)

1 comment
loosie by loosie 26 Oct 2011

I asked hubby for a new machine not a chance was his remark!

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by lbrow 25 Oct 2011

Try Ann's, here is her URL you may find some info that can help you/Lillian

3 comments
lyns by lyns 25 Oct 2011

I love this site. It has been so helpful for me. xx

lidiad by lidiad 26 Oct 2011

Thank you for this link!

asterixsew by asterixsew 26 Oct 2011

Lillian this is a brilliant site and a great help for problem solving

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by lbrow 25 Oct 2011

My guess is somewhere inside that machine a little piece of thread is gumming up the works. Shine a bright light inside & look for any tiny little piece of thread hanging around & try to pull it out with some tweezers if you find any try to get it all out./Lillian

1 comment
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

Thank you for the link!

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by greysewist Moderator 25 Oct 2011

Just wondering if it's possible that the bobbin might have been placed in the wrong direction, just in case there's not a diagram on your bobbin case window to follow. As others have also said the top tension is another common culprit -sometimes on my Janomes the thread will leap out of the tension just to challenge me, so I rethread from the thread reel first up. Hope it continues to behave well for you.

2 comments
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

thanks!

osueo by osueo 07 Jul 2013

Thanks

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by justonlyme 25 Oct 2011

I wish you the very best. When I got my Brother 4500D, that is ALL it did. I couldn't sew anything out without the whole thing getting stitched to the plate because the machine would stitch around the bobbin. I finally got so mad that the owner of the company exchanged it for a new machine. I never did find out what the problem was. I wish you the best and hope that it is something small!! IF you have access to a sewing store that sells embroidery machines, take your project there and "try out" one of their machines. They will gladly let you test drive one, and you'll get your project done. Stressless!! Good luck.

1 comment
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

Great idea, nearest store is over an hour away, I did call and he gave me some pointers so I'll be prepared

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by seamripper40 25 Oct 2011

When my machine does that I rethread it. I think it is in the tension. I try to pull the thread a little to make sure the tension is not loose. Usuallyworks for me.

1 comment
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

I did everything re-thread, cleaned the tension disks, changed needle, etc. finally gave it a rest and tryed the whole steps over again after I calmed down, and finally it worked! Can't tell you what was right the second time around did the same thing as before,... It's a mystery.

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by blueeyedblonde 25 Oct 2011

Check your bobbin case. It may have a burr on it and if you file it down and buff it it'll work again and save you getting another bobbin case. What happens is if there's a burr the thread catches on it and makes a mess wrapping the thread around it.

1 comment
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

Thank you! I have the project going again thank goodness, daughter knows I'm sewing her something but she promises not to peek.... we will see!

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by tamtam 25 Oct 2011

On my Brother machine, when this happens, it us always the bobbin. The bobbin thread has to be wound tight. I can't use my little sidewinder, I have to use the machine itself. Make sure your material is hooped good & tight. If it is loosening, use another layer of stabilizer. Hope this helps, Good Luck! Tammy ****s for all!

3 comments
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

Thank you!

greysewist by greysewist 25 Oct 2011

When I spin bobbins, I do tend to hold the thread to put a little more tension on it as well as to 'direct' it a little. I wonder if most of us do that?

loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

yup me too!

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by lyns 25 Oct 2011

Sounds like what my brother 3100d did last week. I was in tears... I had to get a new bobbin case at $102. My machine is now working perfect. Fingers crossed for you. xx

1 comment
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

I hope I don't need one of those for awhile I did get it running again!

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by patsy28 25 Oct 2011

It always seems to happen when you're in a crunch!! Calm down and take a few deep breaths. Change the needle and bobbin. Check the bobbin case to make sure it is in correctly and rethread the machine. I hope this helps. You may need a new bobbin case. Good luck!

1 comment
loosie by loosie 25 Oct 2011

Thank you! I did all of the above and it's working again!

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